Just Around the Corner
For many of us who celebrate Resurrection Sunday this April 4, our collective feeling of rebirth will be stronger than on an ordinary Easter. The timing of the coronavirus pandemic has felt like a 13-month-long Lent season: we gave up a lot, for a long time, but we did not give up. In the Welcome Center at Cross Keys Village, where the Sales team works, we went through a challenging year to be sure, but in retrospect, we have much to be grateful for.
We are set to complete close to 90 move-ins by the time our fiscal year ends on June 30. A third of those were in brand new Hearthside residences. Our hearts skipped a collective beat when construction was abruptly halted last March… followed by a loud sigh of relief when it resumed in May! We were able to honor the delivery dates we had committed to, and it’s a good thing since our depositors had no difficulty selling their houses (cue second sigh of relief).
We are thankful to the Cross Keys Village departments that coordinated with us to welcome new villagers: Dining, Wellness, Residential Nursing, Information Services, and of course Maintenance! All of them came up with innovative and speedy modifications to the established onboarding process. Our new villagers were patient, understanding, and not one regretted going forward with their plan to move (a few individuals had put their plans on hold, which is understandable during a season of uncertainty). Tellingly, we still managed to add some new names to our wait list, even during the darkest days.
Our existing villagers adapted to the new reality, but it wasn’t easy for some, especially at first. The Cross Keys lifestyle is based on community spirit, and nothing can prepare you for losing overnight the freedom to meet your friends at any time of the day for an enjoyable small group activity or to volunteer a few hours. But they made the best of it, with new virtual options, and with the help of clear and honest communication from our administration. The COVID-19 mass vaccination for villagers that began last week was a most welcome sign that we are on the mend. Indeed, 2021 is full of promise… and a long Lenten season is nearing its joyful conclusion.
Oliver Hazan – Vice President of Sales and Marketing